Collapsible box



June l?,4 1934. M, TRAUTZ I 1,962,920

COLLAPS IBLE BOX Fi1ed Nov. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE BOX Application November 16, 1931, Serial No. 575,264

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to folding boxes and has for yits principal object to provide a box formed out of a single blank and having cells for individual articles when the box is assembled. A further obJect is to provide a lid for the box which may be opened up and formed into a handle for carrying the box. A still further object of the invention is to devise a folding box which may be unfolded into a flat collapsed form.

The invention consists in the arrangements and combinatiomJ of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and wherein like sym- 15 bols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the box is formed,

Fig. 2 is a view along the line 2-2 in Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the box in fiat collapsed form,

Fig. 4 is a view along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an elevation looking at the narrow end of a partially assembled box having only the bottom transverse partitions folded therein,

Fig. 6 is an elevation looking at the narrow end of the box having the bottom partitions folded therein,

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the box as assembled in Fig. 6,

o Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional View along the 3 une 8 8 in Fig. e,

Fig. 9 is an elevation looking at the lnarrow end of the box with the upper longitudinal partitions about to be folded therein,

Fig. 10 is an elevation looking at the narrow end of the box when it is entirely set up and closed,

Fig. 11 is an elevation looking at the narrow end of the box showing the lid and upper longitudinal partitions arranged to form a handle for o the box; and

Fig. 12 is an elevation looking at the wider side of the box shown in Fig. 11.

In the said drawings the score lines or lines of fold are indicated by dot-and-dash lines.

The blank form from which the box is made is substantially a rectangular sheet 1. The sheet 1 is scored lengthwise on two lines 2 parallel to the side edges of the blank and transversely on a line 3 in the middle of the sheet parallel to the end edges of the blank. The scorings 2 are spaced apart a distance equal to the height of the box. The sheet 1 is also scored transversely on a line 4 parallel to one of the end edges of the sheet and spaced from it a distance equal to the end width of the box; and the sheet 1 is also scored transversely. on another line 5 parallel to the other end edge of the sheet and spaced from it a distance equal to the side width of the box. The longitudinal scorings 2 extend the full 60 length of the blank; whereas, the transverse scorings 3, 4 and 5 respectively, extend only between the longitudinal scorings 2; and these scorings dene the end walls 6 and wider side walls 7 of the box when assembled. In the same straight lines with the transverse scorings 3, 4 and 5, respectively, and extending from the ends thereof to the side edges of the blank are transverse slits 8 forming a flap 9 extending from each end wall and a wider ap 10 extending from each side 70 wall at the top of the sheet and similar flaps 9a and 10a at the bottom of the sheet. The sheet is also provided with slits 8a parallel to and of the same lengths as slits 8 and in the middle of each of the flaps 9 and 9a to form comparatively narrow flaps 11 and 11a at the top and bottom of the sheet, respectively.

The sheet is also scored lengthwise on twol lines 12 parallel to the side edges of the sheet and extending the full length thereof. Each of the lines 12 is located to the outside of each line of scoring 2, respectively, and spaced from it a distance equal to substantially one-third of the distance between the pair of transverse scorings 3 and 4. 85

Each top side flap l0 is provided with an ovalshaped opening 13 therethrough having its longer axis extending crosswise of the flap and located a slight distance outwardly of the line of scoring 12 and having its shorter axis extending midway between the sides of the flap; and the ends of each top side flap 10 are out inwardly as at 13a adjacent to the oval-shaped openings to form a handle portion 14 between the openings and the end edges of the flap. Preferably, the oval-shaped openings are re-inforced by suitable strips 15 of adhesive material or the like pasted to the top and bottom of the flap around the narrow end portions of the opening.

Preferably, each of the bottom side flaps 10a is scored along a line 16 parallel to its end edge. A rectangular opening 17 is provided near one corner of the ap and has its inner side in line with the cross-wise scoring 16. Near the other corner of the flap and oppositely disposed from adjoining edges are secured together by a strip lol auf

19 of suitable adhesive material along the corner of the box. The narrow bottom flaps 11a are then turned into the box and their outer end portions are folded upwardly along the score lines 12 to form a pair of spaced bottom vertical transvers'e partitions. The larger bottom flaps '10a are then folded into the box in the space between the narrow flaps 11a to form a single longitudinal partition; and-these ilaps are then secured together by placing the locking tongues 18 into the corresponding openings 1'7 of the other flap. Obviously, the scorings 16 across the aps 11a allow their end portions `to be bent so that it is easy to guide and insert them between the narrow flaps forming the transverse partitions.

The narrow top end flaps 11 and the wider top flaps 10 are then folded into the box in like manner to that of folding in the bottom flaps to form a locked container having six completely enclosed, individual cells.

However, if desired the top side flaps 10 may be pulled out of the box and arranged to form a handle for carrying thev box and it is to loenoted that in this form all of the bottom partitions and also the upper transverse ones are still intact.

Whilethe box, embodying this invention, may be made out of any suitable material for holding various kinds of articles, this invention particularly lends itself to a box for holding soda bottles and the like when it is made out of thick corrugated paste-board. It has become the practice for wholesalers and retailers of soft drinks to sell and handle their drinks in containers capable of holdingl six bottles. This invention, therefore, readily adapts itself to such practice by providing a cheap inexpensive container capable of holding six bottles that can be conveniently handled without fear of breaking `the bottles. Furthermore, the lid of the box can be readily Obviously, the construction hereinabove describedadmits of considerable variations without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For instance, it may be feasible to provide slits for the locking tongues 18 instead of large rectangular openings. Also, the scorings 16 extending crosswise of the top flaps for convenience in assembling the box may be omitted if the material out of which the box is made is thin and flexible enough to allow ready insertion of these aps into the box; and as many other variations may be desirable, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the precise construction shown and described.

What is claimed is:

A folding box comprising a blank scored longitudinally and transversely to form end and side walls of the box, said blank having slits in its bottom edge to forxn a pair of flaps extending from each end wall and a single flap extending from each side wall and said flaps being scored along a line crosswise thereof so that the flaps may be turned into the box to close the bottom of the box and have their end portions folded upwardly to form partitions, each of said side wall aps having' a tongue and oppositely disposed tongue receiving opening whereby the tongues may be inserted in the openings in the corresponding side wall flaps for holding the two together.

KATHRYN H. TRAUTZ, Admimstratria',l of the Estate of Michael J.

Traatz, Deceased. 

